Electrical connection means



R FUNK ELECTRICAL CONNECTION MEANS Filed March 13, 1941 Pzzasz/Z 24, 72 2116 -INVENTOR.

BY M \ATTORNEY;

ratentecl May 11, 1945 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION MEANS Russell A. Funk, Sebewaing, Mich, assignor to H. A. Douglas Mfg. 00., Bronson, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application March 13, 1941, Serial No. 383,127

Claims.

This invention relates generally to electrical connection means, known in the trade as line connectors, which are adapted to receive conductor terminals.

One particular object is to provide a connector in which the parts thereof may be easily and quickly assembled without the aid of special tools.

Another object is to provide improved means whereby to directly detachably connect together plug conductor terminals, and which when connected function to detachably hold a sleeve of insulating material about same.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

In the drawing accompanying this specification and forming a part of this application, there is shown for the purposes of illustration, one of the many forms which the invention may assume; and in the drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the connector embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is an end view of the insulating memher with the terminals removed therefrom;

Figure 3 is a side view of one of the terminals embodying the invention;

Figure 4 is a section taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a vertical section through a part of a terminal post depicting another application or use of the type of terminal illustrated in Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing, numeral I represents a generally tubular insulating member or sleeve. A pair of plug conductor terminals 2 and 3 are disposed within this sleeve and are directly detachably connected whereby to provide a through electrical connection between conductor wires 4 and 5 to which the terminals are secured.

The sleeve I is preferably made oval or oblong in cross-section, and a pair of recesses generally designated 6 and I extend inwardly from each end of the sleeve. Each of the recesses 6 and I are preferably oblong in cross-section, the purpose of which will be described later, and the axes of said recesses are preferably arranged in spaced apart parallel relation. The recess 6 includes a rather large entrance opening 8 and a smaller aperture 9 which are communicatively connected together, and joined together by a conical or tapered portion I 0. The aperture 9 is of a greater longitudinal extent than the opening 8, and its inner extremity is preferably designed to provide a curved or radial abutment I I which more or less provides a stop whereby to predetermine the extent of the inward movement of the terminal 2 into the recess.

The recess generally designated 1 substantially corresponds in shape and size to the recess 6, and includes an entrance opening I2 and an aperture I3 which are communicatively connected together, and joined by a conical portion I4. The aperture I3 is of a greater longitudinal extent than the opening I2, and its inner extremity is provided with a curved or radial abutment I5 whereby to more or less limit the extent of the inward movement of the terminal 3. It is to be particularly noted that the apertures 9 and I3 intersect each other to provide a generally oblong chamber within which the inner extremities of the terminals 2 and 3 are disposed when the parts are assembled together as illustrated in Figure 1. The abutment II forming a part of the aperture 9 is located beyond the center of the sleeve, and the abutment I5 of aperture I3 is also located beyond th center of the sleeve; in other words, said abutments are arranged in offset re lation with respect to each other, one on each side of said center.

Each terminal is preferably made from fiat sheet metal stock which is formed or fashioned as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. The terminal 2 includes a large generally tubular cylindrical skirt portion IB which receives the insulation of the conductor 4; a smaller tubular cylindrical portion I! which receives the bare end I8 of the conductor; and a resilient extremity generally designated I9. The portions I6 and I! are preferably joined together by a tapered shoulder portion 20; and that portion of the terminal intermediate the portions I1 and I9 is preferably curved or made concave so as to provide a detent cove or groove 2|. The conductor 4 may be attached to the terminal 2 in any suitable manner, but, as herein illustrated, is preferably secured thereto by means of solder; and in order to facilitate such a connection, the opposite and adjacent longitudinally extending meeting edges of the material from which the terminal is made, are preferably notched as indicated at 22 to provide a recess through which fluid solder may be dropped onto the bare end of the conductor wire. In any event, it is desirable to connect the conductor wire to the terminal in such a way that the connection will not, in any way, interfere with the action of the resilient extremity I9.

The resilient extremity I9 of the terminal 2 is preferably provided with a plurality of resilient curved fingers 23, preferably four in number, which are formed by providing longitudinally extending slots 24 in the extremity I9. The extremity I9 is preferably generally spherical or round, and resilient fingers 23 are so constructed and arranged that same may flex independently with respect to each other. Due to the round character of the extremity I9 of the terminal, the fingers 23 are made relatively resilient, yet comparatively rigid, and very durable. In this connection, it is to be noted that the slots 24 which extend longitudinally inwardly from the extreme end of the extremity l9 terminate short of the base of the detent groove 2|.

The terminal 3 corresponds in every particular to the terminal 2, and accordingly it is believed suificient to state that this terminal includes a resilient extremity 25 and a detent groove 26.

In view of What has been stated above, it should be apparent that to assemble the terminals 2 and 3 with respect to each other and to the insulating sleeve I, it is merely necessary to insert the generally round extremities l9 and 25 of the terminals into the recesses 6 and 1, until the extremities I9 and 25 engage each other, whereupon further inward movement of the terminals into the chamber formed by the apertures 9 and I3 will at least cause certain of the resilient fingers 23 on each of the terminals to be depressed or compressed toward each other, and at or about the time the extremities I9 and 25 engage the abutments II and I5, respectively, the extremities will expand or snap outwardly causing at least one, or more of the fingers on the extremity l9 to snugly fit into the detent groove 26 provided in the terminal 3 and at least one of the fingers on the extremity 25 to cooperate or register with the groove 2| of terminal 2, as clearly illustrated in Figure 1. Thus, the resilient fingers on the extremities l9 and 25 will provide a good mechanical and electrical connection between the terminals 2 and 3, and in view of the fact that the curvature of the detent grooves and extremities l9 and 25 are constructed as shown, a practically continuous line of contact is established, such line being more or less in the form of an ogee curve. Obviously, the extremities l9 and 25 slidably engage the walls defining the apertures 9 and [3 when the terminals are inserted into the recesses. Although the abutments II and I5 provide stops that more or less limit the inward movement of the terminals into the sleeve, it will be appreciated that the shoulders or tapered portions such as I and [4 may likewise provide stops which may be engaged by the tapered portions 20 of the terminals to limit inward movement of the latter during assembly. The shoulders on the terminals also provide stops for the insulation on conductors 4 and whereby to predetermine the positions of the bared ends of the conductors with respect to the tubular portions H.

The openings 8 and I2 and the apertures 9 and I 3 as set forth above are preferably made oblong in cross-section, and although not essential, is nevertheless desirable in that same allows for radial adjustment of the terminals with respect to each other as same are being assembled or disassembled with respect to the insulating sleeve. In other words, in certain instances the terminals may not be properly formed, 01' a fin or fins may be left in the sleeve during the molding operation, in which event it might be difficult to press the resilient extremities l9 and 25 past each other into intimate interlocking relation. Obviously, to disassemble the terminals with respect to each other and the sleeve I, it is only necessary to grasp and pull outwardly on the conductors 4 and 5.

Referring to Figure 4. numeral 21 designates a terminal post provided with a terminal receiving aperture 28. A spring 29 carried by the post normally presses a detent 30 into intersecting relation with respect to the aperture 28 and is adapted to register with the detent groove 2| of the terminal 2. In view of this construction it should be clearly apparent that the terminals embodied and adapted to be used in conjunction with the line connector as illustrated in Figure 1, may also be used in conjunction with a snap terminal receptacle of the character shown in Figure 5.

In view of the foregoing it will be apparent that improved means have been provided whereby plug conductor terminals may be directly detachably connected to each other and that when connected function to hold an insulating sleeve about same.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of the invention; and, therefore, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described.

I claim:

An electrical connector, including a dielectric sleeve, a generally round recess extending in wardly from each end of the sleeve, said recesses being arranged in generally parallel relation with their inner extremities intersecting and overlapping each other whereby to provide a chamber, a pair of terminals disposed in said recesses having resilient portions disposed in said chamber, and said resilient portions being arranged in interlocking relation with respect to each other and to the walls of said chamber whereby said sleeve is held assembled with said terminals.

2. An electric connector including, an insulator, a chamber provided in said insulator, recesses of a size less than that of the chamber extending inwardly from at least two sides of the insulator and communicating with said chamber, terminals disposed in said recesses, and the inner extremities of said terminals having resilient means arranged in said chamber whereby said terminals are pressed into interlocking engagement with each other and against certain walls of the chamber for holding said terminals in assembled relation.

3. Electrical connection means including, a plurality of plug conductor terminals, said terminals having generally split ball portions, and means surrounding said terminals acting on said split ball portions causing them to yield and define a contact line substantially corresponding to an ogee curve.

4. An electrical connector including, an insulator, substantially annular recesses extending inwardly from opposite surfaces of the insulator, the longitudinal axis of said recesses being arranged in parallel relation and spaced apart a predetermined distance so that the inner extremities of the recesses intersect and overlap each other, and terminals secured in interlocking relation with each other in said recesses.

5. An electrical connector including, an insulator, apertures extending inwardly from opposite surfaces of the insulator and intersecting each other adjacent their inner extremities, terminals within the apertures interlocking with each other, and the end walls of said apertures providing abutments adapted to be engaged by the terminals for predetermining the contacting position of said terminals.

RUSSELL A. FUNK. 

